North Korea (January 2016)

The European Parliament adopted by 65 votes to 2, with 10 abstentions, a resolution on North Korea.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE, Greens/EFA and EFDD groups.

Parliament strongly condemned the fourth nuclear test of 6 January 2016 as an unnecessary and dangerous provocation as well as a violation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and a serious threat to peace and stability in the region. It supported meaningful and effective sanctions to be decided by the international community.

Weitere Informationen:

The situation in North Korea (2014)

he European Parliament adopted by 41 votes, with no votes against and no abstentions, a resolution on the situation in North Korea (DPRK).

The text adopted in plenary had been tabled as a joint resolution by the PPE, S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA and ECR groups.

Parliament reiterates its strong condemnation of the decades-long state repression exercised in a systematic manner by the present and past Supreme Leaders of the DPRK. It urged the EU Member States and all members of the UN General Assembly to move the suffering of the North Korean population to the forefront of the political agenda.

According to the Members, the time has come for the international community to take concrete action to end the perpetrators' impunity. They demand that those most responsible for the crimes against humanity committed in the DPRK be held accountable, brought before the International Criminal Court and subjected to targeted sanctions.

Weitere Informationen:

Nuclear threats and human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on nuclear threats and human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The resolution was tabled by the ALDE, EPP, ECR, S&D, GUE/NGL and Greens/EFA groups.

Parliament recalls the DPRK's launch of 12 December 2012, which used ballistic missile technology, and the nuclear test conducted on 12 February 2013.

Members condemn the nuclear tests and missile activities as well as the DPRK's official announcement that the country reserves its right to carry out a pre-emptive nuclear strike. They urge it to refrain from further provocative actions and sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and to rejoin the Non-Proliferation Treaty without delay.

Parliament expresses its deepest concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in the DPRK, which has been described by UN Special Rapporteurs for North Korea as in a category of its own, possibly amounting to crimes against humanity.

Weitere Informationen:

The situation of North Korean refugees

The European Parliament adopted with 47 votes to 9 with 1 abstention a resolution on the situation of North Korean refugees.

The resolution was tabled by the EFD, Greens/EFA, ALDE, EPP and ECR groups.

It notes that as a direct result of the policies of the DPRK Government and despite the dangers, it is estimated that over the years up to 400 000 North Koreans have fled the country, many of whom are living in neighbouring China as 'illegal migrants'.

Parliament reiterates its call for the DPRK to immediately end its human rights violations against its own people, and calls on the DPRK authorities to act upon the recommendations of the report of the Universal Periodic Review Working Group of the Human Rights Council.

It urges Member States to adopt a more systematic approach to organising European and international protection for North Koreans fleeing their country, and calls on the Commission to continue to support civil society organisations helping North Korean refugees.

Weitere Informationen:

North Korea (2010)

The European Parliament adopted 64 to 0 with 1 abstention a resolution on North Korea.

The resolution had been tabled by the EFD, ALDE, Greens/ALE, EPP, ECR and S&D groups.

It calls on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to put an immediate end to the ongoing grave, widespread and systematic human rights violations perpetrated against its own people, which may amount to crimes against humanity and thus be subject to international criminal jurisdiction.

It calls on the DPRK to stop public executions and abolish the death penalty in the DPRK, to put an end to extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, to stop the use of torture and forced labour, to release political prisoners and to allow its citizens freedom of travel.

It also wants the DPRK authorities to ensure access to food and humanitarian assistance for all citizens on the basis of need, and to allow free expression and press freedom, as well as uncensored access to the internet for its citizens.

Weitere Informationen:

Human rights in North Korea (2006)

The European Parliament adopted by 68 votes to 2, with 1 abstention, a resolution on human rights in North Korea.

The resolution was tabled by ALDE, EPP-ED, PES, Greens/EFA, GUE/NGL and IND/DEM groups.

Recalling the serious shortcomings in terms of human rights in this country and the fact that the government of the DPRK continues to deny numerous international organisations responsible for verifying compliance with human rights access to its territory, the Parliament calls on the country to:

comply with the principles set out in the international human rights treaties it has ratified (such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) and incorporate these principles into domestic law;

abolish the death penalty;

release all people detained or imprisoned for the peaceful exercise of fundamental human rights;

guarantee freedom of expression and freedom of movement for all North Koreans;